Transducers
A good transducer is the heart and soul of your fishfinder! Incorporating some of the latest transducer technology, such as alternating or spectrum scanning transmitters or the use of 1000-watt in-hull or transom mount units, will allow incredible depth finder performance.
There are 4 main transducer models available, defined by how they are mounted on your vessel: Thru-Hull, Shoot-thru-hull (most often used for fiberglass hulls), transom-mount (best suited to trailerable size vessels) and portable transducers. The best transducer for you will depend a lot on your budget, boat type, shape and hull material and the fishing conditions it will be used in. Ideally a transducer needs to 'look' directly down and be mounted so that clean, turbulence-free water passes over its face.
Which is the Best Transducer for My Boat?
Hull Material Considerations:
Hull Material | Recommended Transducer Type |
Aluminium Hull (Tinny) | Transom Mount or Plastic Thru Hull |
Wooden Hull | Transom Mount or Bronze Thru Hull |
Fiberglass Hull | Transom Mount, Thru Hull (Bronze or plastic), Shoot Thru Hull/In-Hull |
Transducer Do's and Dont's:
- Plastic housings are recommended for fibreglass or metal hulls only. Never mount a plastic thru-hull housing in a wooden hull since swelling of the wood may overstress the plastic causing it to fracture.
- Bronze housings are recommended for fibreglass or wood hulls only. Never mount a bronze housing in a metal hull as electrolysis will occur.
- Never install a thru-hull transducer & leave the boat in the water unchecked for several days.
- Never use solvents on the transducer's face or the plastic housing.
- Always site the transducer so that external noise is minimised. Possible sources include air bubbles, propellers, generators, other echosounders.
- Transducer surfaces that can be painted must use a water based antifouling.
With the range of transducers available, selection can appear confusing and with the next generation of Lowrance Transducers and Airmar Broadband/CHIRP transducers arriving in-store – the definition will astound you! So speak with the marine electronics
Humminbird TM275LH-W 1kw Depth/ Temp CHIRP
RRP: $3,699.00
NOW: $3,441.00
Humminbird SS175H CHIRP 1kW Transducer
$2,450.00Airmar TM165H-W Wide Beam 600W Transom Mount
From: RRP $847.00
$790.00
Furuno TM165H-W Wide Beam 600W T/M Chirp Transducer
RRP: $847.00
NOW: $813.50
Humminbird Bronze Thru Hull Dual Beam Transducer
RRP: $1,399.00
NOW: $1,263.00
Humminbird Plastic Thru Hull Transducer - Dual Beam
RRP: $409.90
NOW: $373.00
B164 1kW Tilted Element Transducer
From: RRP $1,499.00
$1,425.00
B175 Chirp Single Frequency Thru Hull Transducers
RRP: $1,999.00
NOW: $1,760.00
B60 600W Tilted Thru Hull Transducer
From: $441.00
B75 CHIRP Single Frequency Thru Hull Transducers
From: RRP $849.00
$796.00
Furuno SS264 Transducer
From: RRP $2,420.00
$2,362.00
Furuno SS-60 Stainless Steel Thru Hull Transducer
From: $715.00
Furuno CM265LH CHIRP Transducer
RRP: $2,541.00
NOW: $2,356.00
Navico ForwardScan Sonar Transducer
RRP: $1,128.00
NOW: $1,072.00
Airmar PM275LH-W Chirp Transducer
RRP: $2,218.99
NOW: $2,046.00
Airmar P319 Plastic Thru Hull Deep Water Transducer
From: RRP $229.00
$208.00
Airmar B175H-W CHIRP Transducer
RRP: $2,199.00
NOW: $2,120.50
Airmar SS164 Thru Hull Transducer - Depth/Temp
From: RRP $1,538.90
$1,349.00
Simrad Airmar SS175L Transducer
From: RRP $2,299.00
$2,152.00
Simrad SS75M 80-130Khz 24-16 Xsonic Beam 20° D/T T/H T/D
RRP: $1,149.01
NOW: $1,075.50